Towel dispensing device



Feb. 8, 1938. L M, HARVE 2,107,790

TOWEL DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 5, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l I T-a j Feb. 8, 1938. M. HARVEY TOWEL DISPENSING DEVICE Fined Oct. 5, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 8, 1938. M HARVEY 2,107,790

TOWEL DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 5, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 EWZZ/QM/ 57 3 fiffa/vy Feb; s, 1938.-

L. M; HARVEY TOWEL DI SPEN S ING DEVICE Filed Oct. 5, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 r Patented Feb; 8, 1938 v 21 Claims.

'I'hisdnvention relates to a toweldispensing deviceior'towel'cabinet and a general object of theinvention is toprovide a practical, effective cabinet for dispensing paper toweling that is sanitary and convenient to operate.

The'towel cabinets that have been introduced having tmeans-for governing the withdrawal of toweling usually include levers, handles, buttons I or the like that must be engaged and operated 10'; bythe users in order to withdraw the toweling.

The; hands of the persons using the cabinets are often wet and the operating levers, handles and buttons, as well as the adjacent parts of the cabinets, soon become soiled and unsanitary. The 151; towels or toweling can-be withdrawn from many 4 of the towel cabinets now in use in unlimited quantities by :merely repeatedly operating the controlsor by' maintaining a-pull on the toweli'ng'. Persons using such towel cabinets often vwithdraw toweling greatly in excess of their actual needs and quicklydeplete the supplies of toweling in the cabinets.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a towel cabinet in which thetoweling maybe easily and conveniently withdrawn for usewithout directlyrmanually engaging 'or actuating handles, levers, buttons or other mechanical parts. g, a

, Another object of the invention isto provide atowel cabinet that includes a mechanism gov- F k erning the withdrawal oftoweling from the'case x that may-beeasily releasedand actuated through -the medium of a portion of thetoweling accessible through anopening in the case, said portion of toweling being receivable by the person who engages it. 1 y

Another, object of the invention is to provide a towel cabinet of the character mentioned that conceals and prevents the user from engaging 40 the lower edge portion of the toweling until the control mechanism has been released or actuatedfas set forthjabove. a Another flobject of-v thetinvention is to provide "a towelcabinet..in which the predetermined or given leng'thpfz toweling that may be withdrawn from "the case following the release or actuation I ofjfthejfcontrol must be 'cut, or torn free before thecontriolj mayagain be released or actuated tof allo'w' ,the withdrawal of another length of to elingp The control of the device is suchthat on a gi'y nl en gth of toweling may be'withdrawn fr the c aseatea'ch operation of the device and equires;that the user cut ,or tear free said .55: ease a ed o i n f, toweling lingand then manually reactuate' Tower, DISPENSING DEVICE Leo M. Harvey, Los Angeles, Calif. Application October 5,1934, Serial No. 746,984

may be withdrawn, which series of manual acts or operations usually deters the user from withdrawing excessive or unneeded quantities of toweling.

Another object of the invention is to provide the combination of a novel continuous supply of paper toweling provided with spaced series of openings and a cabinet or dispensing device for handling said supply, including a mechanism which cooperates with the openings to limit the withdrawal of the toweling. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a continuous supply of paper toweling provided with spaced sets or series of openings which cooperate with the control mechanism of a towel cabinet and provided with cuts, slits or series of perforations adjacent said openings whereby the toweling may be cut or torn free at the openings without being torn longitudinally or being otherwise injured. 20

Another object of the invention is to provide a towel cabinet that is compact and inexpensive and does not involve a towel feeding mechanism or the towel guiding and supporting rolls and shafts usually necessary where towel feeding mechanisms are employed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a towel cabinet of the character mentioned that is substantially tamper proof and incapable of improper operation. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a towel cabinet of the character mentioned that includes means for engaging the toweling along the line where it is to be cut or torn free to insure the proper cutting or tearing of the paper toweling which means is released from the toweling during its withdrawal so that it does not interfere with the proper withdrawal of the towelmg.

Another object of the invention is to. provide a towel cabinet of the character mentioned in which the portion of 'toweling that is engageable to release the control is supported and backed by a guide element that is operatively connected with the control and manually movable through the medium of the toweling to release the control.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of. the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the towel cabinet provided by the invention. Fig. 2 is an end or side elevation of the cabinet. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical detailed sectional View taken substantially as indicated by line 33 on Fig. 1 illustrating the parts of the control in' their normal or unactuated positions. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts of the control in the positions they assume after the manual actuation or release. Fig. 5 is a view similar to 'Fig. 3 illustrating the parts in the positions they assume during the withdrawal of the toweling from the case. Fig. 6 is a vertical detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 5 with the outline of one of the guides appearing in broken lines, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken as indicated by line 1-1 on Fig. 6.

The towel cabinet of the present invention includes generally: a case It); a supply II of toweling in the case It; and a control C governing the withdrawal of the toweling from the case,

con-.iprising a movable element 52 over which a portion of the toweling T is trained, means I3 normally preventing the withdrawal of toweling and for limiting the withdrawal of toweling, releasable by manual actuation of. the element I2, and means it for preventing the actuation o-r rerease of the means It releasable by tearing or cutting free the portion of toweling withdrawn the case Ill.

The case It is a hollow structure for housing the supply of toweling I I and the mechanism of the control C. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings the caseis adapted to be mounted or supported on a Wall or other vertical support. The case Ii] may be substantially rectangular as illustrated in the .rawings and may be formed of sheet metal or the like. The housing or case It preferably includes two sections, a section A providing a back and a bottom I5 and a section B forming the top It, the front I8 and the sides IQ of the case. The bottom It preferably constitutes the carrier or support for the supply of toweling and is spaced some distance above the lower extremity of the back i5. tom, it projects substantially horizontally from the back !5 while its forward portion, 29 is inclined upwardly and forwardly. A' horizontal shelf or flange 2! is provided on the forward edge or extremity of the bottom It; be horizontal while the front I8 and the sides I9 may be vertical as illustrated in the drawings; The front I8 and the sides I9 project downwardly beyond the bottom It and are of substan-" tially the same vertical extent as the back I5. In accordance with the inventionthe case section -B is hinged o-r pivoted to the section A to be swung to an open position where the interior of the case is conveniently accessible. In the structure illustrated in the drawings the section B has its sides I9 pivotally' connected with the section A at 22 so that the section'B may be swung downwardlyand forwardly relative to the section A.

The case Ill is provided with means for carrying the control C'and for supporting and positioning the supply II of toweling. As described above the bottom It of the section A carries or supports the supply II and partitions or, plates 2 are vertically disposed at the opposite ends of the bottom I6 to retain the towel supply in its proper position on the bottom. The plates 24 plates 24- project'downwardly--beyond"the bot tween the plates.

The major portion of the bot' The top- H may tom I6 and are spaced inwardly from the sides I9 to leave spaces for housing certain parts of the control C. Outwardly projecting flanges 28 may be provided on the lower ends of the plates 24 to close the lower ends of these spaces. The upper extremities or edges of the plates 24 are inclined downwardly and forwardly and have outwardly or laterally extending lips 21 to facilitate the easy positioning of the supply II beplates 24 have upwardly and rearwardly inclined portions 28 forming stops for limiting the inward after described.

of the case has an opening 29 spaced between its The forward edges of. the.

movement of the element I2 as will be herein- 7 upper and lower extremities and an opening 30 extending upwardly from its lower end. The opening 29 is provided to render the toweling on the element I2 accessible for engagement by the" user whereby he'may actuate the element to release the control C. The opening 301s preferably in the nature of a comparatively large notch in the lower end of the front I8 and isprovided" to make the lower edge portion of the toweling T accessible for engagement by the user after the release of the means I3 of the control C. The opening 29 may be round while the opening 30 may have a rounded upper wall and downwardly V and laterally divergent side walls. An inwardlyturned lip or rim 3! is provided on the front I8- around the opening 29 to prevent persons from tampering with the element Hand other, partscfthe Imechanism. A similar inwardly turned 7 flange or lip-32 is provided along the edge of the opening 3%.

The supply II of toweling is preferably a con tinuous or uninterrupted length of' papertoweling capable of being readily withdrawn from the case It under the control of the mechanism C. In the particular combination illustrated in the drawings the supply II is in the-natureof. a. con tinuous roll of, paper toweling, it-being-und'er-. stood that the invention contemplates theem-. ployrnent of a supply consisting of" a continuous stripe-f folded paper toweling. The toweling T" comprising the supply II is preferably a long strip of uniform width and where the supply is; in the form of a roll the strip is rolledaltiout a spool 32*. The'supply roll is supported on the bottom It and is held against excessive rolling" movement by the back- I5 and inclined portioni' star the bottom. The plates 24 guide ther'ollt' m2 and limit its longitudinal movement. It is a feature of the invention that the toweling; ,"of" the supply II is provided with longitudinally" spaced'sets or series'of. openings 33; The longitudinal spacing ofthe openings-33 along the strip of; toweling maybe uniform orirregular asz desired or found practical. The portions ofth'e toweling T occurring between theseriesgofopen v ings 33 comprise the towels that are withdnav'vn and torn free by the users of'the device;

Each longitudinally spaced series" or setof lines at the sets of openings 33. In the particu lar case illustrated in the drawings the cuts" or slits 34 are continuous, it being understood that they may be in the nature of spaced series of relatively small scorings or perforations. L A cornparatively long cut or slit34 extends transversely across the toweling between points adjacent the two innermost openings 33 while similar cuts 34 extend between points adjacent the openings 33 of each pair of openings. The cuts or slits 34 are aligned and preferably occurin planes substan- 'tially tangential to the upper ends of the openings 33. It will be apparent how the'provision ofthe cuts or slits 34 insures the proper straight tearing or cutting of the toweling in or adjacent the planes of the series of openings 33.

' The control C is an important feature of the invention and includes parts for cooperating with the openings 33 of the toweling and parts for cooperating with the face or body of the toweling to govern the withdrawal of the toweling from the case l and to allowthe'withdrawal of only one length of toweling at each actuation of the device. In accordance with the invention the control C is released to allow the withdrawal of a length of toweling by manually pressing on the toweling T trained over the element |2 to move the element inwardly. The element 2 which comprises a part of the control C is in the nature of a panel, apron, or guide on which the toweling T is trained or arranged for withdrawal through an opening 35 in the lower forwardcorner portion of the case I0. I within the case In and is normally substantially vertical and spaced a short distance to-the rear of the front l8. I

"The principal section or part of' the element |2 may be a substantially rectangular plate 33 provided at its lower end with an opening 31 to oppose or register with the opening 39 in the front of the case. The opening 31 is preferably of the same size and shape as the opening 30. The plate 36 is pivotally supported at its lower end by'pivot pins 38 and suitable brackets 39. Vertical or longitudinal spacers 40 are provided along the opposite edge portions of the plate 36 and comparatively wide guides 4| are carried by the spacers 4B. The guides 4| are in sp'aced parallel relation to the plate 36 and provide channelsfor guiding the opposite longitudinal edge portions of the toweling T. A rolled edge portion-or guide 42 is provided on the upper end of the element |2 to guide and change the direction of movement of the toweling'T. The toweling T'is brought upwardly from the forward face of the supply roll I land is trained over the guide 42 to pass downwardly across the forward face of the plate 36. The'guides 4| operate to hold the toweling T in its proper position against or adjacent the front of the plate 33 and guide it for removal through the-opening 35. The pivoted towel guiding and carrying element l2 may be moved or pivoted inwardly by pushing on the toweling T through the opening 29 to release the means l3. -The element |2 may be pivoted inwardly in this manner until the plate 36 contacts the forward edge portions 28 of the plates 24'. 4

The element I2 is arranged The means-I3 is provided primarily to cooperate with the toweling T to limit its withdrawal at eachtoperation of the-device. The means |3 also normally holds the toweling T against withdrawal and conceals the lower portion of the toweling T at the opening 39'whereby the users cannot pull on'the-toweling without first releasing the means I 3 by pressing inwardly on the element l2 through the medium ofthe toweling exposed at the opening-29; g-

The means |3 includes two lever members or levers 43- arranged in the case I0 behind the element l2, each lever having two downwardly projecting arms'44. Forwardly projecting fingers 45 are provided on the. lower ends of the arms 44 to cooperate with or extend through the openings 33 in the toweling T. The fingers 45 are preferably inclined upwardly and outwardly and are formed and spaced to readily project into the openings'33. without undesirable interference with the' toweling-T. .Horizontal pivot pins 46 are carried in openings in the plates 24 and ears 41 on the flange 2| and extend through openings in theupper portions of the lever arms 44 to pivotally supportthe levers 43. Transverse webs 48 extend between and connect the two arms 44' of each lever 43. Slots or openings 49 are provided inthe pla-te 36 and the guides 4| to freely pass the fingers 45 so that the fingers may cooperate with the toweling and enter the openings 33 in the toweling. Each lever 43 has an upper rearwardly projecting arm 50. The arms 50 are of sulficient weight to pivot or tend to pivot the levers '43 to move .their fingers 45 forwardly against-the toweling T and through the openings 33. --Whenthe parts are in their normal positions as" illustrated inFig. 3 of the drawings the fingers 45"extend through the openings or slots 49 atthelower edge of the strip of toweling T directly in the path of the toweling. Operative connections are provided between the element l2 and the'levers 43 whereby the fingers 45 are retracted from the openings 49 when the user engages the toweling T through the opening 29 andpushes'or pivots the element |2 inwardly. The operative connections between the element l2 and the levers 43 include bell cranks positioned at the outer sides of the plates 24 and pivotally mounted on the back 5 at 5|. Each of these bell cranks has a forwardly projecting lower arm 52 and an upwardly projecting arm 53. Links 54 connect the upper bell crank arms 53 with the element l2. Pivot pins 55 may pivotally connect the rear endsof the links 54 with the arms 53 while pivotj'pins56 may pivotally connect the forward 'endsofthe links with the upper end portion of the element |2. The lower forwardly projecting arms 52' of the bell cranks are of sufficient weight to normally hold the element l2 in its normal position ilustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings" and operate through gravity to return the element to this position upon the bell cranks being released for return movement, as will be hereinafter described. Laterally projecting lugs 5| are provided on the lever arms 50 to be engageable by" the bell crank arms 52. Upon a person pushing on the toweling T through the opening 29 the element I2 is pivoted inwardly causing the bell crank arms 52 to pivot upwardly and the engagement of the arms with the lugs 5! causes the levers 43 to pivot in a direction to withdraw the fingers 45 rearwa'rdly out of the path of downward movement'of the toweling to the opening".

1 The means 13 includes a door or shutter 5:8 for normally preventing the user from engagingthe lower edge portion of the toweling T at the opening 30. The shutter 58 is guided for vertical move.-

, ment by slots or grooves 59 in the flange 32. Forwardly pro-jecting'iingers 60 are provided on the outer ends of the bell crank arms 52to carry the shutter 58. The upper end of the shutter 58 is suitably pivotally connected with the fingers 60 as at El. It will be understood that when the element i2 is pushed inwardly as described above the shutter 58 is raised upwardly out of the open.- ing 30 simultaneously with the retraction of the fingers 45 from the path of the toweling T so that the user may readily engage the lower edge portion of the toweling T and pull it downwardly to withdraw a length of toweling. When the user removes the inward pressure from the element :2 and pulls the toweling T downwardly from the case If the heavy arms 52 of the bell cranks return the element to its normal position and allow the arms 50 to operate through gravity to. urge the fingers 45 forwardly against the downwardly moving toweling so that the fingers are urged to enter the openings 33 at the upper end of the portion of toweling being withdrawn. The fingers 45 thus operate to limit or stop the withdrawal of toweling from the case l and the user may then cut or tear free the withdrawn portion of toweling by subjecting it to a downward pull.

Means may be provided in connection with thelevers 43 to insure the straight horizontal or transverse tearing of the paper toweling. Transverse members 63 areattached t0 the webs, 41B and project forwardly so that their forward edges engage the inner side of the toweling when the fingers 45 project through the openings 33.

Openings or slots 63 are provided in the plate 36 to freely pass the forward portions of the. members 63. The forward edges of the members 63 may be suitably serrated or sharpened and engage the, toweling at or adjacent the slits or cuts 34. The horizontal sharpened edges of the members 53 bearing outwardly against the toweling. T cause the toweling to be cut or torn free along, horizontal lines between the spaced cuts 3! and between the outer openings 3.3 and the opposite;

longitudinal edges of the toweling.

The means i4 isv provided to prevent a second or repeated release of the means l3. before the withdrawn portion of toweling 'I is cutor torn free. The means I4 is in the nature-of an interlock or latch means which is released by tearing or cutting free the withdrawn portion of toweling to free the means l3 for further operation. The means i4 includes a latching or interlocking lever 64 pivotally supported on each pivot pin 46.. The. levers 64 are controlled or actuated through their cooperation with the toweling T and each includes a downwardly projecting arm 35 provided at its lower end with a downwardly and forwardly inclined finger 6B. Openings or slots. Gil: are provided in the plate 36 and the guides. to. pass the fingers 66 with suitable clearance. The fingers 66 project below the'fingers 4 and their ior ward ends are rounded to properly cooperate with the toweling T as it is being withdrawn through the opening 35.

The lever arms 65. in the particular structure illustrated in the drawings are spaced some distance inwardly from the plates N and webs 67 extend from the lever arms to points beyond the plates 24. Upwardly projecting latch arms 68 are provided on the webs 61*- at the outer sides of the plates 24.

The pivot pins 46 extend through V ly with respect to the lever arms.

openl-ngs'in the latch arms 68 to aid in pivotally supporting the levers B4. Springs 69 are connected with the latch arms 68 to normally urge the fingers 66 forwardly into the path of downward travel of the-toweling T. A rearwardly prolooting-latch nose or lug i0 is provided on each arm 68. Lateral lugs H are provided on the forward end portions of the bell crank arms 52 to cooperate with the latch lugs when the element 1-2 is pushed inwardly as described above. The springs 69 yield to allow the lugs H to snap or pass. over the latch lugs iii to positions where the latch lugs hold the bell cranks in their up positions and the element [2 in its innermost po-, sition. Fig. 4 of the drawings illustrates the lugs H cooperating with the latch lugs Hi to releasably hold the element i2 in its inner position and the bell cranks in their upper positions. With the parts in the positions illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings the user may remove the inward pressure on the element 12 and engage the lower projecting portion of the toweling T to withdraw the toweling from the case. It will be seen from this that the user is only required to employ one hand in releasing the control and withdrawing the towel T; The shutter 58 is held in its up or inoperative position at this time allowing the ready engagement of the toweling at the opening 30. The fingers 66 normally projecting into the path of downward movement of the toweling T are engaged by the toweling and forced inwardly asthe user pulls the toweling downwardly. This inward movement of the fingers 66 causes forward swinging of the latch arms 68 and disengagement of the latch lugs 15 from the lugs'H- The heavy lower arms 52 of thebell cranks then oausethe bell cranks .to return to their normal positions to move the element i2 to its substantially vertical position.

The fingers 6.6 are urged forwardly and maintained in engagement with the toweling T by the springs 69 and: the means i4 operates through this engagement to prevent a second or repeated release of the means Hi. The means i4 latches or holds the element l2 against inward movement until. the withdrawn portion of the'toweling. is cut or torn free. Latches 12 are pivotally supported on the pins 45 to depend or hang adjacent the outer sides of the levers 64. The latches. 1-2 are connected with the lever arms 68 to move therewith and to have limited movement with respect thereto. Stops 13 on the arms 68 are engageable by lugs 14 on the latches 12 to limit the rearward movement of the latches with respect t0 the arms. Springs 16 are arranged under compression between lugs 15 on the latches l2. and the webs 6.1a tourge the latches rearward- Lateral lugs 11- areprovided on the forward end portions of the bell crank arms 52 to cooperate with latch projections I8 on the latches T2. The latch pro jections'lBv have inclined upper edges engageable by the lugs 11 when the bell crank arms 52 are freed for downward swinging.

Upon. the disengagement of the latch lugs 10 from the,- lugs H- the lugs 11 move-into engagement with the inclined edges of the lugs 18 to pivot the latches 12 forwardly. the lugs H are latched under the latch lugs E8 in; the positions illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. With the parts in this position the bell crank arms 52 are latched in positions where theelement I2 is held against movement and thelatches- 12- and the fingers 66 are-held against any appreciably rearward movement. The lugs In this manner "cooperate with the lugs l1 to prevent the inward movement of the element l2 and upward movement of the shutter 58 so that the user is unable to release the control for the second time.

Accordingly the user in order to obtain another portion or length of toweling must tear free the flrst'portion which-he has withdrawn from the case Hi. When the'withdrawnportion of toweling is torn free at theopenings 33 and cuts 34 the fingers 66 are free to move forwardly under the action of the springs 69. This forward movement of the levers 64 disengages the latch lugs 18 from the lugs 11. With the latch lugs 18 dis- "enga'ged from the lugs ll the means l3 of the "control C may again be released by pressing inwardly on the element l2 through the medium of the papertoweling exposed at the opening 29.

When the mechanism of the towel cabinet ''is in its normal condition the parts are, in the positions illustrated in Figs. 1 and 30f the drawings and the lower edge of the strip of toweling T is ator adjacent the fingers 45; The shutter 58 normally conceals and protects the lower edge I portion of thestrip of toweling T against eni movement of the bell crank arms is accompanied by upward-movement of the shutter 58 and in- Ward retraction of the fingers 45 outof the path of adownward movement of the toweling T. The tugsn cooperate with the latch lugs ID to latch the bell crank arms 52 in their up positions where the fingers areretracted and the shutter is withdrawn from the opening 30. This exposes the lower edge portion'of the strip of toweling T for engagement through the opening 30. and theus'er may remove the pressure from the element 12 and pull downwardly on the exposed lower portion of the toweling. 'As the the toweling .T with the hand he employed to shutter 58 is 'automatically' latched in its up position the user may grasp the lower portion of press: the element I 2 inwardly.

- As the toweling T is drawn or pulled downwardly through the opening 135 it engages the fingers 66 and moves them inwardly against the action of the springs 69. This inward movement of the fingers 68 results in disengagement n of the latch lugs"!!! from'the lugs H. "with the disengagement of thelugs 18 and H the heavy lowerarms 52 of the bell cranks pivot downwardly to return the element l2 and the shutter 58to their normalpositions. During-the downward pivoting of the bell crank arms 52' the'lugs 7! become latched under the latch lugs 18 as 11- lustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The toweling T may be freely withdrawn or pulled downwardly unt'il a series of openings 33 is brought opposite th ei fingers 45, whereupon the fingers 45 pass "into the openings to stop the downward movement of the toweling. The weighted or heavy le- Y r-arms urge the fingers ,45 forwardly to enter the'iopenings 33. The projected orwithdrawn portion of the toweling Tmay then be torn or cut free by pulling downwardly on it to cause pa t gpr tearing of the papertoweling between the. cuts .34 and between the ends of the outer utsgana the longitudinal, edges of the toweling. 'I'hemeans l4 makesit necessary for the user to tearor cut, free thewithdrawn portion of the toweling T'before he can again release the means l3. The cooperation of the lugs 11 and I8 positively prevents the inward movement of the element l2 and thus prevents the retraction of the fingers 45 and the upward movement of the shutter 58. When the user tears or cuts free the withdrawn portion of toweling T the fingers 66 are again free to swing forwardly under the action of the springs 69 so that the lugs 18 of the latches 12 are freed from the lugs 11. The control C is then conditioned or reset for further release or actuation.

'I'he towel cabinet provided by this invention is substantially tamper proof and requires that the user tear or out free the portion of toweling T which he has withdrawn from the case, in

order to obtain a second length of toweling. The

amount of toweling T obtainable from the case lil at one operation is limited or determined by thespacing of the series of openings 33. The cooperation of the fingers 45 with the openings 33 positively limits the extent of withdrawal of the toweling T at each operation. The means M is such that the element l2 cannot be improperly operated and retains the shutter 58 in the position where the toweling above the fingers 45 is protected against engagement by the user. The device may be easily operated to obtain the necessary toweling without engaging any metal or mechanical parts. The control C is released by pressing inwardly on the toweling T accessible through the opening 29. This operation exposes the lower edge portion of the toweling T which may then beengaged to withdraw the length of toweling from the'case.v The toweling that is engaged by the user through the opening 29 is Withdrawn for his own use. The supply ll of toweling T is properly supported in the case I0 and the toweling is fed through the control C without theemployment of gear means or a mu]- tiplicity of rollers.

This application relates to devices of the general character described and claimed in the United States Letters Patent Number 2,067,760,

granted to me January 12, 1937, on an application filed October 15, 1934, and to devices of the general character described and claimed in my copending application Serial Number 746,983, filed October 5, 1934. In the devices which are the subject matters of said Letters Patent and said copending application the control elements, movable through manual manipulation of the material being dispensed, are rotatable elements.

7 Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific form and application herein set forth,.but wish to reserve to myself any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A towel cabinet including a case for housing a supply of toweling, the case having an opening through which thetoweling may be withdrawn and having a second opening exposing a portion of the toweling extending from the supply to the one of said openings, and means for controlling the withdrawal of the material from the case including means in the case for preventing withdrawal of the material, and an element directly facing the other, opening at the inner side of the material extending from the supply and depressibl-e through the medium of the material accessible through the second opening to release the last mentioned means. I

3. A device of the character described including a case ior housing a supply of sheet material and having an opening, a movable plate in the case facing the opening, means for guiding the material between the opening and the plate, the plate being movable by pressing against the material accessible through the opening, and means for controlling the withdrawal of the material from the case governed by movement of the plate.

4. A towel cabinet including a case for housing a supply of'toweling, the case having an open- 1 ing, means normally preventing withdrawal of the toweling from the case, an element pivoted in the case to be swung inwardly therein to release said means, means training the toweling over the element at the rear of the opening whereby the toweling on the element may be engaged by the user through the opening for moving the element inwardly, and means governed by cooperation with the toweling for preventing actuation of the element and releasable by tearing free a withdrawn portion of the toweling.

5. A towel cabinet including a case having an opening, a'supply of strip paper'towel material in the case having longitudinally spaced openings, and a control for governing the withdrawal of the material from the case including a member adapted to cooperam with the openings to limit the withdrawal of the material, an element supported in the case for bodily inward movement therein to shift the member to an inactive position, and means guiding a portion of the material to engage asurface of the element and to be accessible through said opening by the user of the cabinet to move the element.

' 6. A'towel cabinet including a case, a supply of paper towelingmaterial in'the case having longitudinally spaced openings, and a control for governing the withdrawal of the material from the case including a member adapted to cooperate with the openings to limit the withdrawal of the material, means normally urging the member to an active position to cooperate with openings, a plate supported by the case for movement by the user of the cabinet to shift the member to an inactive position, and means governed by cooperation with the material for holding the member in said inactive position releasable on withdrawal of the material, the last mentioned means including a control part engaged and moved by the toweling when the same is with drawn.

'7. A towel cabinet including a case for a supply of toweling, the case having a first opening, through which a portion of toweling is accessible for engagement by the user, and a second opening through which the toweling may be engaged for withdrawal, a shutter normally preventing engagement of the toweling at the second opening, a control governing the withdrawal of the toweling from the case, and an element operatively connected with the shutter and control movable by acting on the portion of toweling accessible through the first opening to release the control and shift the shutter '00 a position where the toweling is engage'able at the second opening.

8. A towel cabinet including aoase for holding a supply. of toweling, the case havingan opening through which the toweling may be withdrawn and having a second opening, a shutter normally closing the first opening against the engagement of the toweling therein, a member normally in the path of withdrawal of the toweling 'to prevent its withdrawal, a movable element in the case operatively connected with the shutter and member, and means training the toweling over the element tobe engageable by the-user through the second opening to move the element for the purpose of retracting the shutter and member. v 9. A towel cabinet includinga case for holding a supply of toweling, the case having an opening through which the toweling may be withdrawn and having a seoond opening, releasable means preventing withdrawal of the toweling, a movable plate member within the case adjacent the second openingand operative- 1y connected with said means, and'meanstraining the toweling over the plate member. to'be accessible and engageable by the user'through the'second opening to move the plate member to release said means.

10. A towel cabinet including a case for hold' eluding a case for housing a supplyof sheet a materia1,-a wall of the case having an opening, a control element carried by the case for swinging movement toward and away from said wall of the case, means guiding the material across the element at the inner side of the opening whereby the material is accessible through the opening to niove the element, and means controlling the withdrawal of material from the case governed by movement of the element.

12. A towel cabinet including a case for housing a supply of toweling, the case having an opening through which the toweling is engageable for withdrawal and a second opening through which the toweling is accessible, a shutter normally preventing such engagement of the toweling at the'first mentioned opening, means governing the withdrawal of the toweling from the case, and a member within the case manually movable through the medium of the toweling accessible through said second opening'to shift" the shutter to a position where the toweling is engageable and to release said means.

. 13.A towel cabinet including a case, a supply of toweling material in the case having longitudinally, spaced openings, and a;contro1 for governing the withdrawal of the material from the case including a member adapted to enter the openings to limit the withdrawal of the material, and an element in the case operatively connected with the member and bodily manually movable through the medium of thematerialto retract the member. t

14. In a towel cabinet of the character described, a case having an opening, a continuous supply of paper toweling material in the case provided with longitudinally spaced series of openings, the material being adapted to be withdrawn through the opening, means trainingthe toweling to make a portion thereof engageable by the user, a mechanism in the case for controlling the withdrawal of the material including parts adapted to enter the openings to limit the withdrawal of thematerial, and a manual control for retracting said parts comprising a control element behind said portion of the toweling bodily movable by manual pressure on the said portion of toweling and operatively connected with said parts.

l 15. A towel cabinet including a case for a supplying of toweling, the case having a first opening I and asecond opening through which the toweling may be engaged for withdrawal, a shutter normally preventing engagement of the toweling at the second opening, a control governing the withdrawal of the toweling from. the case, the control including a part for engaging the toweling to limit its withdrawal, a-movable element in the case operatively connected with. the shutter andsaid part, an element in the case at the rear of the first opening movable to release said part and to shift the shutter, means training the toweling over the forward face of the element whereby the element is movable by acting on the toweling accessible through the first opening to release said part and shift the. shutter to a position where the toweling may be engaged for withdrawal, and means governed by cooperation with [the toweling holding the part released and the shutter in said position and released upon removal of the toweling.

16. A towel cabinet for dispensing sheet towel material having openings including a case for housing a supply of the material and having an opening through which the materialimay be withdrawn, releasable means .io'r limiting the withdrawal of the material from the case inc ing a supply of toweling and having an opening,

releasable means for preventing withdrawal of toweling from the case, and means for releasing said means including an element carrying a portion of toweling; means supporting the element for movement bodily inwardly in the case where said portion of toweling is manually engageable throughfsaid opening to directly transmit inwardmanual force and movement to the element,

and an operative connection between said element and the releasable means.

, 18. A towel cabinet including a case for housing a supply of toweling and having an opening, releasable means for preventing withdrawal of toweling from the case, an element supported in the case toswing inwardly therein, means guiding the material across the element to be manually eng eable through said opening for the direct transmission of manual inward pressure and movement to the element, and an operative connection between the element and the first mentioned means whereby said movement of the element releases the first mentioned means.

19. A towel cabinet including a case, a supwith openings, an element supported by the case for movement by the user of the cabinet to shift the member to an inactive position, releasable means for latching the element in its actuated position and the member in'its inactive position, and a part engaged and moved by the toweling to release the last mentioned means when the toweling is withdrawn from the case.

20. A towel cabinet including a case for housing a supply of toweling, the case having an access opening and an opening through which the material is engageable for withdrawal, and means governing the withdrawal of toweling from the case including a shutter normally extending across the second mentioned opening to prevent the user from engaging the toweling, an element operatively connected with the shutter and supported by the case for movement, means training the toweling on the element to have a portion accessible to the user through the access opening to move the element and thereby shift the shutter to a position where the material may be engaged through said second mentioned opening, and means engageable by the toweling 7 ing in the material to thereby stop movement of the material, and an element bodily manually movable through the medium of the material to retract the member.

LEO M. HARVEY. 

